Vivienne - The Lost and Found

“Oh,” I sighed and all my resistance faded to unimportance. I closed my eyes and felt his lips against my neck. The world slowly fell away. Time seemed to stand still; my heart stopped beating and all the air seemed to rush from my lungs. As he held me I could feel something filling my mind and an understanding crept into me of what it was he planned to do and what it was I would need to do in exchange.

**Please note** This is a two-part novel; the first taking place during the late 1800's in France and the second taking place during the early 1900's in America (specifically Boston, Ma.). The preface is from part two and may be confusing since it doesn't match up with any of the initial chapters of the book. Please be patient as the story develops. It will all make sense in the end! Happy reading =)
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Chapters:

I did not dare take Gavin near the farmhouses for fear of meeting
either Deaglan or worse - Gabriel. Instead I turned us in the
opposite direction and led him toward the kitchen gardens then
further on into the shrubbery and formal grounds. I made sure to
point out anything of significance or that I thought might
interest Gavin hoping that if I were in constant dialogue it
would in give our walk a friendly rather than romantic
impression.

After about 15 minutes or so of moving along this way Gavin
abruptly stopped cutting my latest sentence short. He stepped in
front of me and with an exasperated tone, "Ms. Rousseau, please,
I am sure you understand that we are not on this errand together
for the sake of educating me on your family's property."

"Well, now that that is settled, please forget about the topiary
and tell me something of yourself."

Trembling I looked up and wondered where to begin; what could I
possibly tell him that I wouldn't much rather keep to myself.

He must have seen the uneasiness he had created reflecting in my
eyes and with a look of apology kindly offered his elbow again
then resumed walking. "Do you ride Ms. Rousseau?" he asked.

Something happened in that moment and though my apprehension was
at its peak I cautiously answered, "Oui, but not so often as I
should. I don't really enjoy it very much. I'm not very tall
and sometimes it is hard for me to keep my saddle."

"Claire never rides side-saddle," he said with assurance.
Honestly, I don't know many women who do anymore."

"Really?" I tried to imagine myself straddling my mare and
galloping freely through the fields.

"Really; did you know that Marie Antoinette and Catherine the
Great were known to ride astride?"

"Non," I grew suspicious that he might be trying to have some fun
at my expense, "you are teasing me."

"Indeed I am not. There is even a painting of Catherine to prove
it. She was wearing an officer's uniform and sat astride while
the portrait was taken."

"Huh?" I shook my head in disbelief.

"I see something," he was looking sideways at me, "something in
your eyes. You are wondering what it would be like, and more so,
wondering what it would be like to be a strong woman like
Catherine or Marie."

I tried to suppress my grin and rather than adding anything
additional to the topic I turned it away from myself, "Do you
think your cousin is a strong woman?"

"Ha," he laughed out loud. "Claire is the strongest woman I
know; she has a…an undeniable will. Whatever Claire wants,
Claire gets."

"She must be very lucky then."

Gavin laughed again, "I guess you could say that, but it's not
really luck if you're just taking what you want no matter the
consequences."

I had to wonder at this for a moment then sadly, softly said, "I
do not think I will like her then."

"Oh?"

"When you say it like that, she sounds like…like a
tyran…a bully."

Then it was Gavin's turn to pause and think, "I guess in the most
simplistic terms, that is exactly what she is," he said this as
though he had only just realized the truth of it. He was quiet a
moment longer then, "So we have talked of your land and your
horsemanship; what other subject is safe for us to dwell upon?"

I said the first thing that came to mind, "What is Paris like?"

We had come to a shady part of the grounds and there was a bench
tucked into a little alcove off the side of the path we were
following. Gavin asked if I would like to sit down and soon we
were in a lengthy question and answer about all things Paris. He
knew just about everything there was to know but there was no
fervor as he spoke and I felt that despite his long residence
there, he did not love the city and it was more a matter of
convenience that he lived there.

I asked him, "You sound as though you wouldn't live there if it
weren't necessary."

"Non, I would not." He took a deep breath of air, "Non, I would
rather live something like this," he motioned to all that he
could see, "away from and wholly independent of the rest of the
world." He looked completely sincere. "And you? Would you
choose the city based on what I have told you or would you prefer
to remain as you are?"

Though this was the first time anyone had ever asked me such a
question, it was not the first time I had thought about it. "I
would choose neither," I said. "I would live in a country
cottage with a little garden and some sheep and cows and ducks.
And my husband would tend our crops and together we would care
for the animals and raise our children. We would be simple and
happy and live our lives but one for the other with nothing ever
to come between us," I sighed then blushed deeply realizing I had
said much more than I intended.

Gavin was smiling broadly and without thought or hesitation
asked, "And do you have this husband in mind?"

I abruptly stood up and brushed the folds from my dress, "Perhaps
we should be heading back now. I'm sure we have been gone longer
than we imagine. I wouldn't want to cause any unnecessary worry
and besides your cousin may be refreshed and eager for your
company."

"Of course," his voice was somewhat vexed and it hinted at the
disappointment I caused by the avoidance of his question.

He offered me his arm again and we traced our path back to the
house. Thankfully by the time we arrived Jean had managed to
convince Philippe that they too had an obligation to entertain
Gavin for some part of the day. Jean had concocted a plan to
ride to the vineyards that afternoon and the cellars the
following so that Gavin could see as much of the wine making
process from start to finish as possible.

Gavin graciously accepted their invitation, thanked me for my
company and after saying how much he looked forward to our
meeting again at dinner, said farewell.

I had a lot to think about and rather than join my parents who
were chatting over coffee in the parlor I went up to my room and
lay down on my bed. I closed my eyes and tried to remember
everything that had happened in the day so far. As I re-imagined
it all I smiled to myself because my mind was substituting
Gabriel for Gavin in all that had taken place between us.

Gabriel was the one I was smiling at and talking with all through
lunch. He was the one my mother and father prompted me to
venture outdoors with. And when I told my dreams of love and
family to him, it was Gabriel who was listening and wondering if
he was the husband I had in mind.

I must have dozed off for an hour or so because I awoke to a
knock on my door, "Vivienne? May I come in?" my mother called
softly.

Groggily I drew myself up and answered the door, "Oui, Mama, what
is it?"

She was holding a dress box tied with a silken ribbon and one of
the servants was with her, "I have a gift for you. It's from Ms.
Delacroix; she is hoping you will wear it tonight at dinner."

"Have you met her then?"

"Non, I have not, not yet," my mother said somewhat nervously.
"She had it sent down to me so that I could bring it to you."
She handed me the box.

I brought it to my bed and eased the ribbon off. I fumbled with
the lid and when I managed to remove it my mother and the servant
peered in with me. Together my mother and I peeled back the soft
linen wrapping then carefully lifted the gown out of the box.

It was so simple and elegant made from very fine silk the color
of merlot. The neckline was open and looked as though it would
fall just beyond my collarbone almost to the tip of my shoulders.
It had some delicate lace sewn around it but little else for
decoration. The waist was high and enhanced by a broad ribbon of
matching color and the skirt itself fanned out from there and
fell in soft, shimmering folds.

My mother held it up to me, "Oh, it's beautiful. You are going
to look so beautiful in it!" she beamed. "Here," she took the
servants hand and led her to the doorway, "we'll give you a
moment to get it on then we can pin it up if it needs to be
fitted at all."

They closed the door behind them and I slipped out of my rumbled
dress and into my new gown. I couldn't lace up the back, but
from the feel of it, the gown fit perfectly. I opened the door
and let my mother back in. She gasped when she saw me, and made
a quick circular inspection before deftly lacing up the back and
doing another round of surveying.

She shook her head, "It's stunning and it just amazes me how well
it fits. What do you think, Vivienne?" she steered me towards
the mirror.

I was used to my somber, practical dresses and this was my first
true evening gown. It was quite a transformation for me and I
couldn't help wishing Gabriel could see me just then, "It's
beautiful, Mama; very, very beautiful and it feels so soft and
smooth." I ran my fingers over the fabric in emphasis.

My mother came and stood behind me looking over my shoulder at
our reflection. She kissed my cheek, "Monique will do your hair
for you. Take your time and take care that nothing happens to
your dress before dinner."

"Oui, Mama."

She smiled and left while Monique had me take a seat at the
vanity. She began combing out my hair and sectioning off the
pieces to be curled and the ones to be pinned up. It took over
an hour for her to feel as though my look was complete and when
she was done I thoroughly thanked her for her efforts.

After she left I sat at the vanity a minute or two longer turning
my head this way and that; studying my hair, my face, and though
I felt very pretty wondering if I truly was. For some reason I
remembered the drawing Gabriel had done of me and how he had
seemed to make me look much more beautiful than I actually was.
I felt like I was living the moment that he had somehow caught on
paper, and that the girl I was there, was the girl in the
reflection before me.

The dinner bell rang and I carefully extracted myself from my
seat. I counted to 100 before I opened my door so that I could
be sure that I wouldn't be the first to descend. I was eager to
show myself and glowing with happiness as I made the final turn
into the dining room. The murmuring from the various
conversations suddenly died down and everyone looked my way as I
stood in the doorway. It was nerve-wracking and I was frozen in
place unable to control the sudden self-consciousness that took
hold of me.

Gavin quickly came forward to greet me and after a foray of
compliments led me to the table and helped me to my seat. I
glanced from one look of disbelief to the next, and as I did they
all transformed into brilliant smiles and words of praise. I
blushed and thanked, smiled and trembled and finally the
conversations resumed one by one. Jean and my mother spoke
softly, my father and Philippe also in hushed voices and soon
afterwards Gavin began telling me of his visit to the vineyards.

As he spoke I realized that we were still waiting for one more
place at the table to be filled, "Is Claire not joining us?" I
interrupted Gavin.

Then as if on cue she was standing in the doorway where I had
just stood and an awestruck silence fell once more on the room.